past tenses

Question

Please are these OK?1. We waited one hour and then we went home.2. We were waiting one hour and then we went home.3. We'd waited for one hour when we decided to go home.3. We'd been waiting for one hour when we decided to go home.If so, what is the difference in meaning?Thanks  a lot

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

1. We waited one hour, and then we went home.
Fine. It's like two events. First one thing happened. Then the next thing happened.

2. We were waiting one hour, and then we went home.
Strange. I don't think there are many people that would use the continuous tense there.

3. We'd waited for one hour when we decided to go home.
OK. This characterizes the wait as one block of time summarized as the event '(had) waited'.

4. We'd been waiting for one hour when we decided to go home.
OK. A little more idiomatic than 3, in my opinion.
This characterizes the wait as a continuous activity (waiting) interrupted by the decision to leave.

CJ

Misko Pisko · Answer

Thank you so much! <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/> Very helpful. M

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